Door control



Dec. 15, 1925' w. B. SUMMERALL noon CONTROL Fiied Dec. 1 192.4.

2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Juliane/aid.

W ilz'allofl.

A'ITORNEYS Dec. 15, 1925' 1;565;524

w. a. SUMMERALL DOOR CONTROL INVENTOR WIUB-SMIUIM;

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 15, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DOOR CONTROL.

Application filed December 10, 1924. Serial No. 755,096.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BRYAN SUM- MERALL, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of Atlanta, in the county of Fulton and State ofGeorgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in DoorControls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved door control,

and it consists in the combinations, constructions and arrangementsherein described and claimed. 7 An object of the invention is to providea device of the character described which will act automatically to holda swinging closure towhich it is attached in any position to which theclosure can be swung but which will yield in response to a predeterminedpressure on the closure to permit swinging movement of the closure.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thecharacter de scribed which will be practically noiseless in operation,is not likely to get out of order easily, and which is thoroughlypractical commercially.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a device of thecharacter described which is adapted to he operative-1y applied to aframe and swinging closure construction of any known type without anychanges in the frame and closure construction being required. I

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device ofthe character described which is adjustable to vary within aconsiderable range the resistance which the device will offer toswinging movement of a door or like closure to which the device has beenapplied.

Other objects and advantages will be ap parent from the followingdescription, considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,in which- Figure 1 is a fragmentary perspective view, showing the upperpart of a door and frame construction equipped with a door controlembodying the invention, the door being closed.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section through the frame exhibited in Figure1, the view being taken at the level of the upper end of the door andshowing in full lines the position of the device when the door is closedand in dotted lines the position of the de Figure 3 is a section alongthe line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a relatively enlarged fragmentary perspective view showingin separated position the parts of the device at the meeting ends of thearms thereof.

Figure 5 is a View similar to Figure 4, showing the parts at the outerend of one of the arms of the device.

In Figure 1 I show a frame including a jamb 1 to which a door2 isattached by hinges, as at 3 in Figure 2 to swing horizontally. When thedoor is in closed position, as shown by the full lines in Figure 2, aside face of a vertical edge portion thereof is disposed flatwiseagainst a vertical stop strip a which is secured to the face of the jamb1 in any suitable known manner, no means therefor being shown. Theconstrue tion described so far is ordinary and forms no part of theinvention.

The improved control forthe door 2 or like swinging closure, as providedby the invention, comprises a pair of arms 5 and 6 respectively. The arm6 is a flat bar-like member enlarged laterally at one end as indicatedat 7, the marginal edge portion of the enlargement being arcuatelycurved as shown and the enlargement being formed to be' slightlyconcavo-convex as best seen in Figure 3, the upper face of theenlargement being concave. A vertical aperture 8 is formed in the arm 6adjacent to its juncture with the enlarged end portion 7 and theenlargement 7 is provided with a central opening 9. The arm 6 also isenlarged laterally at the end thereof which is opposite to theenlargement 7, as at 10, the enlargement 10 preferably being of lessarea than the enlargement 7 but also being formed with an outwardlycurved marginal edge and with a central opening as indicated at 11 inFigure 3. The arm 6 is curved longitudinally in its plane so that onelongitudi- 'nal edge of the arm 6 is con'cavely curved between theenlargements '7 and 10, as at 6 while the other longitudinal edge 6 maybe slightly convex between the enlargements 7 and 10.

The arm also is a flat bar-like member enlarged laterally at one end toprovide an enlargement 12 having the marginal edge thereof arcuatelycurved and being substantially coextensive in area with the enlargement7. However, the enlargement 12 is not concavo-convex but is formed withthe upper and lower faces thereof parallel. A central opening 13 whichis similar to the hereinbefore mentioned opening 9 is formed in theenlargement The arm 5 is en larged laterally at its other end, as at 11, to provide an enlargement having an arcuately curved marginal edge.The enlargement 14 is similar to the enlargement of the arm 6 and isformed with a central opening 15 whiclr is similar to the opening 1.1.The arm 5 is bent in its plane so that one longitudinal edge of the arm5, indicated at 5, is concavely curved between the enlargements 1% and12, while the other longitudinal edge of the arm 5, indicated at 5", isslightly convex between the enlargements 1-1 and 12.

The arms 5 and 6 and of course the enlargements at the ends thereofpreferably are formed of metal. The arms 5 and 6 are arranged so thatthe concavely curved longitudinal edges 5 and 6* will be disposed inconfronting relation and at the inner sides of the arms 5 and 6 and theenlargements 7 and 12 are connected by means of a vertical pivot bolt 16and the arms 5 and 6 are disposed at an acute angle to each other shownin the drawings, the enlargement 12 being uppermost and being spacedfrom the enlargci'nent T by a flat fiber disk 17 which is coestensive inarea with each of the enlargenients 7 and 12 and has a central opening18 through which the shank of the bolt 16 enter With this arrai'lgement,the con cavely CL ed surface of the enlargement 7 is uppermost. and thehead of the bolt 16 will be disposed against the convexly curved lowerface of the enlargement 7. The shank of the pivot bolt is of suliicientlength to extend above the upper face of the enlargement 12 through acentral opening 19 in a fiber disk 20 and through a central opening 21in a convexo-concave metal clamping disk 22 which overlies the fiberdisk 20, the upper end portion of the shank of the bolt being providedwith screw threads for engagement with a nut 23, whereby the enlargement7, disk 17, enlargement 12, disk 20 and top clamping disk 22 will beconnected together in superposed relation when the nut 23 is screwed ontheupper end portion of the shank of the bolt 16. The clamping disk 20is formed with a locking lug 24 which eX- tends outwardly and thendownwardly from the peripheral edge thereof for engagement with theaperture 8 of the arm 6, whereby the clamping disk 22 will be heldagainst turning about the axis of the bolt 16 independently of theenlargement 7. The friction between contiguous members of the superposedseries of enlargements and washers can be varied within a considerablerange b adjusting the nut 23 on the shank of the bolt 1.6 to vary thepressure by means of which adjacent parts of the superposed series areclamped against each other. Since the under face of the top clan'ipingdisk 22 is concave and the upper face of the enlargement 7 whichconstitutes the lower clamping mem ber of the series also is concaved,the frictional contact between the clamping disk 22 and the upper liberspacing disk 26 and the frictional contact between the enlargen'ient Tand the lower friction spacing disk 1'? will. occur first at theperipheral edges of the top clamping member 22 and lower clamping member'4' as the nuts 23 are tightened against the clan'iping disk 22 and theareas of frictional contact between the top clamping disk 22 and thespacing disk 20 and between the lower clamping member 7 and the spacingdisk 17 will enlarge radially inward as the pressure on the top clampingdisk 22 which results from the tightening of the nut 23 on the bolt 16is increased. This friction between adjacent parts of the superposed series will not result in loosening or tightening of the nut 23 when thearms 5 and 6 are swung in opposite directions about the axis of the bolt16 since the clamping disk 22 with which the nut 23 is in contact andthe enlargement 7 with which the head of the bolt 16 is in contact areheld against relative movement about the axis of the bolt 16.

A right angular bracket 25 has a flat supporting arm 25 which preferablyis formed with the outer end portion thereof rounded at its edge as bestseen in Figure 5 and is provided firther with a vertical opening 26which is located centrally of the rounded outer end portion. The bracket25 is secured by screws 27 or like fastening devices to the door 2 sothat the supporting arm 25 will be horizontal. The enlargement 14 of thearm 5 is spaced from the supporting arm 25 of the bracket by a flatfiber disk 28 having a central opening 29. A second fiber disk 30 havinga central opening 31 is superposed upon the enlargement 14. A topclamping and locking plate 32 is superimposed upon the disk 30 so that avertical opening 33 in the plate 32 will be in vertical alignment withthe openings 31, 15, 29 and 26 and a straight edge portion 34 of theplate 32 will be disposed in contiguous relation to the verticalattaching portion of the bracket 25. The shank of a pivot bolt 35 isprojected through the aligned openings 26, 29, 15, 31 and 33 in theorder named that the head of the bolt 35 will be disposed against thelower face of the horizontal arm 25* of the bracket and the threaded endportion of the shank of the bolt will extend above the upper face of theplate '32. A nut 26 is engaged with the threaded upper end portion ofthe shank of the bolt. The parts 25 28,

14, 30 and 32 thus are secured in superposed relation and the frictionbetween adjacent parts may be varied by adjusting the nut 36 on theshank of the bolt 35, the adjusted position of the nut on the bolt beingmaintained when the arm 5 is swung about the axis of the bolt 35 sincerelative movementof the plate '32 with which the nut 36 is in contactand the horizontal supporting arm 25 of the bracket, with which the headof the bolt 35 is in contact, is prevented.

A bracket 37 which is similar to the bracket 25 is right angular and hasa vertical attaching portion secured byfiscrews 38 or like fasteningdevices to the jamb 1 so that the supporting arm, indicated at 37 of thebracket will behorizontal. The supporting arm 37 of the bracket 37 issimilar to the supporting arm 25'? of the bracket 25 and is providedwith an opening 39. A fiber disk 40 having a central opening 41 spacesthe en largement 1O from'the horizontal arm 37 A second fiber disk 42having a central opening 43 is superimposed upon the enlargement 10. Ametal clamping and locking plate 44 which is similar to the clamping andlocking plate 32 is superimposed upon the fiber disk 42 so that anopening 45 in the clamping and locking plate is in vertical alignmentwith the openings 42, 11, 41 and 39 while a straight portion ofthemarginal edge of the plate 44, indicated at 46 is in abutting relationto the vertical attaching portion of the bracket 37. I A bolt 47 whichis similar to the bolt 35 is extended through the aligned openings 39,41, 11, 43 and 45 in the order named so that the head of the bolt is incontact with the lower face of the supporting arm 37 while the threadedend portion of theshank of the bolt extends above the up per face of theclamping and locking plate 44. A nut 48 is screwed on the extendingupper end portion of the shank of the bolt against the plate 44 andholds the parts 37, 40, 10, 42 and 44. in superposed relation. Thefriction between adjacent parts of this superposed series can beadjusted by adjusting the nut 48 on the bolt 47 and will be maintainedwhen the arm 6 is swung about the axis of the bolt 47 by reason of theprovision of the clamping and locking plate 44 which is held againstmovement about the axis of the bolt 47 independently of the supportingarm 37 of the bracket.

From the foregoing description of the various parts of the device, theoperation thereof may be readily understood. The bracket 25 is securedto the door on the side thereof that comes in contact with the door stop4 so that the bracket will be disposed at the upper edge of the door andoutwardly from the plane of the outer face of the door stop when thedoor is in closed position. If the door stop is relatively wide, thebracket 37 may be secured on the face thereof. Otherwise, the bracket 37will be secured to the door jamb proper. The arms 5 and 6 are pivotallyand frictionally connected to one another in the manner hereinbeforedescribed and pivotally and frictionally connected at their outer endsto the brackets 25 and 37 respectively whereby a toggle joint betweenthe brackets 35 and 37 and therefore between the door and its frame isprovided. The adjacent longitudinal edges of the arms 5 and 6 areconcavely curvedlongitudinallyv of the arms so that the space betweenthe arms is relatively great and affords clearance for the stop strip 4when the door has been swung to an angle of nearly 130 from fully closedposition. automatically to stop movement of the door when the forcewhich has been applied to the door to swing it from closed position toany desirable position is removed. Slamming of the door, either toclosed position or to fully open position is prevented. As fiber disksare interposed between adjacent parts of the device, the operation ofthe device will be accompanied by very little,.if any, noise. Theconnection of each arm with its bracket is both pivotal and frictionaland the connection of the arms together also is pivotal and frictionalso that the device comprises three separate points of frictional andpivotal connection between relatively moving parts, whereby a relativelygreat resistance to swinging movement'of the door to which the device isapplied can be provided with but slight wear on relatively movingcontiguous surfaces of adjacent l1l0V- ing parts of the device. Theresistance which will be offered to moven'ient of the door can be variedby adjusting any one or all three of the nuts of the device on its boltorthei'r bolts and a predetermined adj ust ment will be maintained for arelatively long time since the wear on the metal parts of the device ispractically negligible and the wear on the fiber parts of the device isvery slight.

The concavity of the. arms 5 and 6 is mainly for the purpose of avoidingcontact with the projecting edge of the door (see Figure 2) when thedoor is swung back full 180.

' The'clamping plates22 and 32 by reason oftheir stability, compeldouble friction ateach joint.

The device is generally adaptable to right or left and is adaptable toboth the :outside or inside of the door.

I claim j v 1. A device of the character described.

The device will act comprising a pair of flat bar-like arms, one of saidarms having a concavo-convex laterally enlarged end portion formed withan arcuately curved marginal edge, the other of said arms having alaterally enlargedfiat end portion formed with an outwardly curvedmarginal edge, said enlarged end portions having central openings formedtheret-hrough adapted to be placed in alignment when the arms aredisposed with the fiat enlargement above the concavo-convex enlargement,a spacing disk between said enlargements, a second spacing disksuperimposed on said flat enlargement, a convexoconcave clamping disksuperimposed upon said last named spacing disk, said spacing disks andsaid clamping disk having central openings in alignment with one anotherand with the openings of said enlargements, a bolt having the shankthereof extending through said aligned openings, a nut in threadedengagement with said bolt for cooperating with the bolt to secure saidenlarged end portions of the arms and said disks in superposed relation,means whereby one of said arms is pivotally attached at its other end toa door, and means whereby the other of said arms is secured at its otherend to the frame for said door.

2. A device of the character described comprising a pair of fiatbar-like arms, one of said arms having a concavo-convex laterallyenlarged end portion formed with an arcuately curved marginal edge, theother of said arms having a laterally enlarged flat end portion formedwith an outwardly curved marginal edge, said enlarged end portionshaving central openings formed therethrough adapted to be placed inalignment when the arms are disposed with the flat enlargement above theconcavo-convex enlargement, a spacing disk between said enlargements, asecond spacing disk superimposed on said flat enlargement, aconvexoconcave clamping disk superimposed upon said last named spacingdisk, said spacing disks and said clamping disk having central openingsin alignment with one another and with the openings of saidenlargements, a bolt having the shank thereof extending through saidaligned openings, a nut in threaded engagement with said bolt forcooperating with the bolt to secure said enlarged end portions of thesame and said disks in superposed relation, means whereby the other ofsaid arms is secured at its other end to the frame for said door, saidclamping disk and the lower arm having cooperative means for preventingrelative rotational movement of said clamping disk and the enlarged endportion of said last named arm about the axis of said bolt, and forpermitting relative axial movement of said clamping disk and theenlarged end portion of said last named arm.

3. A device of the character described comprising a pair of fiatbar-like arms, one of said arms having a concavo-convex laterallyenlarged end portion formed with an arouately curved marginal edge, theother of said arms having a laterally enlarged fiat end portion formedwith an outwardly curved marginal edge, said enlarged end portionshaving central openings formed therethrough adapted to be placed inalignment when the arms are disposed with the flat enlargement above theconcavo-convex enlargement, a spacing disk between said enlargements, asecond spacing disk superimposed on said fiat enlargement, aconvexoconcave clamping disk superimposed upon said last named spacingdisk, said spacing disks and said clamping disk having central openingsin alignment with one another and with the openings of saidenlargements, a bolt having the. shank thereof extending through saidaligned openings, a nut in threaded engagement with said bolt for cooperating with the bolt to secure said enlarged end portions of the sameand said disks in superposed relation, means whereby the other of saidarms is secured at its other end to the frame-for said door, the lowerarm having an aperture adjacent to its enlarged end portion and saidclamping disk having an outwardly and downwardly extending lug at itsperipheral edge adapted to enter said aperture when said clamping diskis moved axially toward the enlarged end portion of said last named armto lock said clamping disk and said last named arm against relativerotational movement about the axis of said bolt.

4. A device of the character described comprising a pair of arms,eachrhaving an end portion frictionally and pivotally attached to an endportion of the other arm, a right angular bracket attachable to a door,a second right angular bracket attachable to the frame of the door, eachof said brackets having a horizontal supporting portion, the horizontalsupporting portion of each bracket having a vertical opening, a spacingdisk for each bracket, said spacing disk being superimposed upon thehorizontal supporting portion of the bracket, the second end portion ofone of said arms being superimposed upon the spacing washer on one ofsaid brackets and the second end portion of the other arm beingsuperimposed upon the spacing washer of the other bracket, said lastnamed end portions of the arms having vertical openings in alignmentwith the openings of underlying spacing disks and supporting portions ofthe respective brackets, a spacing disk superimposed upon the last namedend portion of each arm, a clamping and locking plate superimposed oneach of the last named spacing disks, said clamping and locking platehaving an edge portion thereof in contact with the bracket on which itis supported and having a vertical opening in alignment with the partsunderlying said clamping and locking plate, and a bolt and nut for each01": said brackets, said bolt extending through the opening of thehorizontal portion of its bracket and through WILLIAM BRYAN SUMMERALL.

